The GHC Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned by the Pro Wrestling NOAH (NOAH) promotion. "GHC" is the acronym of NOAH's governing body, the Global Honored Crown. The title was created on April 15, 2001 when Mitsuharu Misawa defeated Yoshihiro Takayama in a 16-man tournament final. Though its name implies a particular weight class, it has been held by junior heavyweights in the past, including Yoshinari Ogawa and former GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Naomichi Marufuji. All GHC Heavyweight Title matches and contract signings were overseen and introduced by GHC title commissioner Joe Higuchi until October 2010 when Higuchi died, at which time he was replaced by Harley Race.

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Throughout the history of the championship, the title as vacant one, due to the reigning champion Jun Akiyama was forced to forced to relinquish the title due to herniated discs in his back. Then it was held a decision match to determine the new champion.

Overall, there have been a total of 17 recognized champions, who have had a combined 3 official reigns. Title changes happen at NOAH-promoted events or tours. Takashi Sugiura holds the record for most reigns, with 4. At 735 days, Kenta Kobashi's reign is the longest in the title's history. Sugiura, with a combined 3 reigns, holds the record for most days as champion at 784. Yoshihiro Takayama's reign holds the record for shortest reign at 16 days. With 14 successful defenses, Sugiura's first reign had the most title defenses during a single reign. Over his 4 reigns, Sugiura successfully defended the title 17 times, the most of any champion. With zero in Takayama's only reign, Morishima's third reign and Marufuji's third reign are all tied for least successful defenses. Go Shiozaki became the first freelancer to win the championship after defeating Takashi Sugiura on May 28, 2016. Takashi Sugiura is the current champion in his fourth reign, after defeating Kenoh on August 26, 2017, at Great Voyage in Yokohama to win the title. Eddie Edwards became the first gaijin to hold the GHC Heavyweight Championship after defeating Katsuhiko Nakajima on August 26, 2017. On November 6, 2017 in Canada, Edwards made his second defense of the GHC Heavyweight Championship against El Hijo del Fantasma, being the first title defense made outside NOAH territory.

On August 9, 2015, Suzuki successfully defended the title against Mio Shirai at a Pro Wrestling Wave event. The defense was not recognized by NOAH, so officially, Suzuki successfully defended the title 4 times instead of 5.